Why Emperor Sunhwang liked this balcony so much seemed evident to me.

Sitting at the highest point and listening, even trivial conversations became disgraceful. Even the words spoken in passing became a dagger returning to the throat.

So, the father must have done that every day. There probably wasn’t a day when he didn’t experience trouble. To protect what he had to protect as the Emperor, placing himself in a lonely position.

“Yeah, as you say, that’s a dreadful thing.”

However, Carson disliked it.

Even if the Swedish family were to be endangered by his decision, even if Ines Sweden were to face sad events because of it.

Despite the temporary safety brought about by his father’s decision, as Carson, who resented him all along.

More than the fact that his mother had been poisoned, he resented his father who couldn’t properly grieve while looking at it.

So, Ines would feel the same.

Rather than giving her up to protect her life, Carson, who would hold hands with her and go to death together even if they had to hang on the gallows, would wish for that. He was certain that Ines would do that.

“But still, I don’t like it.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Give up as well. There’s nothing good that comes from shedding each other’s blood.”

Carson picked up the half-filled glass and swallowed it a couple of times. However, unable to endure the lukewarm taste any longer, he spat out the alcohol on the floor.

“Marquis Mansut, the world is already changing. Trying to shake me alone won’t be able to resist the changing current.”

Carson stood up. Then, like encouraging a subordinate, he patted Mansut’s shoulder a couple of times.

“Do you know what happened to the weaknesses my father protected so hard you all talk about?”

“…….”

“Squeeze and shake whatever you think my weaknesses are. My people are not so weak.”

Even when the Emperor laughed lightly and spoke, he didn’t expect the Marquis’s firmly sealed mouth to open.

“Oh, and sorry, but your daughter is, well, not to my taste, or rather.”

Once he turned away from Marquis Mansut, there was no fear on the way, then it was a lie. However, Carson’s steps, which came out of the door, felt heavy.

If there was just one more corridor, there was Ines. At least that’s what he thought.

He returned to his office, but Ines was nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t yet time for her to go back to her room.

“Where on earth did she go?”

He thought about calling someone to ask about her whereabouts but gave up.

Suddenly feeling stifled, Carson opened the window wide. The chilling wind cooled his face and the heat rising from his chest.

When he glanced around, Ines was walking across the garden, muttering something.

It was dark after the sun had set, but there were lights shining in various parts of the garden.
Carson pulled Ines’s chair in front of the window to see her approaching. Just her presence made Carson feel that wherever Ines was felt like home.

Does she know?

The fact that he had placed her in a very dangerous position right now.

Even if she knows, Ines would not show any particular agitation. She always expressed unexpected answers and emotions.

As the woman walked, the flowers swayed and rustled.

As if the wind was blowing, a refreshing scent brushed Carson’s nose with each calm step.

Despite all movements seeming slightly slower than others, every action that moved slightly slower left traces that didn’t disappear quickly.

Even though it shouldn’t be so, Carson always felt the smell of laundry dried well in the sun from her, carried by the wind, and closed his eyes for a moment.

Then, opening his eyes again, they suddenly narrowed.

“What’s that again?”

A man in dark clothes, not easily visible, approached her. No, maybe he didn’t even know if they had been walking together from the beginning.

The two faced each other and engaged in a warm conversation. A strange tension was felt.

Although they kept an appropriate distance, it wasn’t to the extent that they couldn’t feel goodwill towards each other. This, too, was a scene that seemed to be seen somewhere.

Carson took a deep breath and exhaled again.

Ignoring the emotion he considered severe, it was difficult to ignore the emotions that suddenly appeared. He attributed it to the time that couldn’t confirm anything, but he still didn’t like it.

However, he forced a smile on his face with his head tilted.

At that moment, Ines laughed heartily towards the man.

The man was standing with his back to the Imperial Palace. Still, it was clear what expression he was making. Carson gritted his teeth and returned to his desk.

Trying to focus on the documents in front of him, he made an effort to concentrate before Mansut moved. It was crucial to occupy a favorable position before Mansut moved.

After flipping through about twenty sheets of documents with a short and strong breath, Carson tried to ignore the emotions that he considered heavy.

However, he raised his head and looked at the papers again.

“Where did she go?”